PLANS for an RFU-managed all-weather pitch in the Forest have been kept alive according to one of the men driving the project forward.

Parsons, the RFU area manager for the South West, said he believes more consultation with clubs in the Forest is needed in order to get a green-light to begin the project.

Parsons unveiled the plans last month at a meeting at Drybrook RFC attended by members of the host club, Cinderford, Lydney and other Forest sides.

He believed that local rivalries were causing clubs to ’cut off their noses to spite their faces’ with a pitch located at Drybrook but not owned by the Mannings club – a point Parsons was keen to stress.

“It is an RFU pitch at Drybrook, not Drybrook’s pitch,” he explained.

“On October 17 we assembled the data we had collected off local clubs and it was pretty low.

“I’ve managed to argue the case that I don’t think we engaged the clubs well enough.

“We’ve bought ourselves another month until November 17.

“It could have been taken off the table but luckily we are still in there.

“Ashley Stephens [Gloucestershire rugby development officer] will work with the Gloucestershire RFU to do some club engagement.

“Thankfully it seems that a few clubs are starting to respond with positive sentiments. It’s important to remember that rugby will look totally different in 30 years time.”